The construction of Ethio-Kenya electric transmission line has seen 88 percent completion, Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) told The Ethiopian Herald. The 2.4 billion Birr project financed by African Development Bank (AfDB) covers 433 Kms from Sodo, zonal town in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s State, to Ethio-Kenya boarder, EEP External Relations Director, Misiker Negash, said. According to him, the Kenyan government has also been constructing a 622-Km line within its boarder. He added that the construction which created 600 jobs to citizens would help to export 500 volt additional hydro-power to Kenya. Currently, Ethiopia exports 100MW, 80MW and 10MW to Sudan, Djibouti and Kenya respectively.

The Indian government is finalising a 100 million dollar pledge for the Ethiopia and Djibouti power interconnection line, which will transmit 230kV of electric power to Djibouti. The line will extend from Semera, Afar Regional State to PK12 substations in Djibouti. It will enable Djibouti to import 60MW of electricity from Ethiopia, as well as help the nation earn a total of 50 million dollars annually from exporting power to Djibouti. The feasible study of the project was completed by Tractebel Engineering S.A, one and half century old Belgian engineering company with a presence in 33 countries and 1,600 staff members. Tractebel conducted the feasibility study with a financial backing from the Kuwait Fund.